Former MP Keith Locke dies

Friday, 21 June 2024

Former Green MP Keith Locke has died.

Locke’s family said in a statement he “died peacefully in the early hours of this morning after a long illness”.

“He touched many lives in the course of his work in politics and activism.”

Locke was born in 1944, and was in Parliament between 1999 and 2011. Prior to Parliament he was a sociology lecturer at Victoria University.

Green Party co-leaders Marama Davidson and Chlöe Swarbrick said in a statement he was “both a dear friend and a leading figure in the history of our party and indeed in this country’s history of activism”.

“He has been a shining light for the rights of people and planet. Keith Locke leaves a legacy that his family and all who knew him can be proud of.”

They said Locke “never wavered in his task of holding government and those in positions of authority to account during the four consecutive terms of Parliament that he was a sitting MP for the Green Party. From 1999 to 2011, he served our party with distinction and worked extremely hard to advance causes central to our kaupapa.

“Not only did Keith work to defend civil liberties at home, but he was vigilant in highlighting human rights crises in other countries, including the Philippines, East Timor, West Papua and in Latin America.”

His family said Locke “was a man of integrity, courage and kindness who lived his values in every part of his life”.

“He will be greatly missed by his partner Michele, his family, friends and colleagues.”